LIFE IS MORE INTERESTING WHEN YOU READ MODÉ

MODÉ MAGAZINE is a Houston Based print publication and online portal for avid Black American Artist & Couture junkies. MODÉ MAGAZINE exists because many mainstream magazines do not portray style and features that are important to African Americans. Representation is very important to any minority group. Many of the magazines were created in a time when discrimination and racism in the United States was prevalent. Times have changed. Though our main priority is black representation, we don't discriminate.

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CAMVISUALART is just getting started. Cameron Reed is a rising photographer coming out of Houston Texas. He is gaining recognition as one of the best all-around photographers in the city. From editorial portraiture to landscape CAMSVISUALART captures the fine detail in all of his work. He is adamant that his hustle mentality will get him far in his career. We had the opportunity to walk around his city and appreciate him in his craft.  

MM: Tell us about yourself

CAMSVISUALART: I am a photographer coming out of Houston, Texas. At just 18 years old I have started to gain a lot of attention and respect for my work. I get inspired by Houston a lot. The creative scene and the people here gives me the ideas for creating masterpieces. Now I used to play sports and I was the biggest athlete if u ask the people closest to me, and I was for sure thinking I was gonna go pro. I was not bad at all btw. However, after my junior year I didn’t love it as much as I did before, so I left. I knew I wanted to work in film and the arts but I was not until I borrowed a camera that I got heavy into photography.  At first I’m not going to lie I was not accepted, and I was criticized for my work, little did people know that it wasn’t gonna break me. I stood my ground and I worked hard to get where I am today, and the rest is history.

MM: When did you realize your passion for photography?

CAMSVISUALART: I learned to be myself, and create my image. I didn’t know what it was at first, but just learning to focus on myself and to create art not for everyone else but for my happiness really helped me. I feel in love with it because for the first time I had no restrictions, I was my own boss, and I got to bond closer with my real friends.

MM: What made you interested in photography? Tell us about your photography.

CAMSVISUALART: Just going out and shooting with my friend Jaden, he was one of the few people who believed in me at first. He will always be family. Now the first pictures that blew up was the museum, pics with my friend Chidera, that was the first piece of actual art that I got a positive response to, and I learned I can do it. My art can be described as a little darker tone then most peoples, but a still raw and uncut esthetic.

MM: What does your photography represent/what are you aiming to capture in each photo?

CAMSVISUALART: My photography represents my vision, my struggles, triumphs, and even my depression. I do struggle with depression, but with my people around me they motivate me to keep going. Keep mental health an important topic. Just because people look a certain way in public doesn’t mean they don’t struggle behind closed doors. The people that wanted to talk down on me but are looking confused and stupid because I’m making a way to be great. My art reflects the un seen potential that I seem to find in every location even if it looks like nothing. Like with my friend Morgan she aspires to be a model, and we shot in a parking garage of all places. Mind you we stay in the 4th largest city in the world, and we shot at parking garage, but it didn’t matter about the place it’s about the vision I had for the shoot which made the art come to life. I aim to be the best and make change with the platform I am giving. I make and produce ART, that’s why I’m called Camsvisualart.

MM: Do you study photography?

CAMSVISUALART: I study other photographer like Gunner Stahl and Rayscorruptedmind, people that are working with celebrities and doing multiple event and shoots with these people. You have to study those who have made it in, order to be there one day.

MM: Who are your influences?

CAMSVISUALART: Gunner stahl and Rayscorruptedmind for sure.

MM: What have you learned about yourself since you started photography?

CAMSVISUALARTS: To not care about what anyone says, everyone wants to criticize, but never wants to do it themselves. I learned how hard work pays off and just be true to yourself. You can’t make everyone like you and not everyone will, all you can do is support the ones who believe in you. That is why the people who had faith in you before the come up, always will get taken 1 over anything, anyone, any day.

MM: What is your motto to live by?

CAMSVISUALART: Always Create, laugh, smile, but most importantly be happy and don’t forget about the ones that were there for you.

MM: What’s next for you?

CAMSVISUALART: Lots of photos. So much art. Maybe a project coming soon. Just have to wait and see

Make your life more interesting and Check out his website here: https://camsvisualart.com

Photos 1-3: XKY 4-10: CAMSVISUALART

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INTRODUCING... Channel O Conner! A young designer from Baton Rouge,  She is the CEO of Blockade Apparel. She had time to sit with us, thankfully, so we can give readers a deeper insight on the line. 

 MM: Can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell them how you fit into the big world of art and design?

Chanell: Chanell O’Conner, or Nell, a 21-year-old designer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I think I fit in by being myself and creating clothes off my moods and what is happening in my life personally.

MM: How did you come up with the name “Blockade”?

Chanell: Blockade Clothing got its name from wanting people to block out the negative energy and be themselves while wearing comfortable and stylish clothing.

MM: Tell us about your clothing line, what was your motivation to get this off the ground? How has the line developed since? Do you do it all by yourself?

Chanell: My clothing line came about when I decided I wanted to be the change in the world, it tackles topics such as depression, losing faith, racism, sexism, and homophobia

MM: What do you want customers to feel wearing your brand?

Chanell: I want customers to feel confident and secure within themselves while wearing Blockade. I don’t want any outcasts’ feeling or anyone feeling unequal. We are one when we wear Blockade.

MM: How did your education and experiences in school and beyond lead you to the role in which you are working today?

Chanell: Before I took a break from college, I was actually majoring in business management, so I was learning the ins and outs of owning a brand for that time.

MM: What have been your most successful designs? Why do you think that is?

Chanell: I think the "Warriors of Lost Faith" or "WOLF" collectionhas become the most popular because people can relate. That collection was created for people who have sufferedfrom any form of mental illness or have lost their faith in a power beyond thee. This is a constant reminder for people like me that they are not alone, and we are warriors. There are many other warriors like them battling the abstract with effort to never give up.

MM: Could you describe the road to the first blockade design?

Chanell: The first Blockade design was a simple tee I created to get my brand out there. The logo is sort of a Rubik’s cube block & I had blockade curved on top of the logo it was so popular it’s still online till this day.

MM: How has social media and networking impacted upon the way in which you work, brand and promote yourself today? How do you use the likes of twitter for your brand also?

Chanell: Social media is the key networking tool. You get people talking about your clothes and RT-ing and Quoting and there are 3 sales right there. I take it to my advantage by having giveaways which allows my following to grow and has helped me build a fanbase.

MM: What brands, artists and general fellow creative minds would you recommend from your social media circle of friends?

Chanell: I would suggest the clothing lines, @2DaNextClothing out of Chicago, @PSPOfficial7 out of Iowa, and @ViewsScattered out of Connecticut.

MM: Do you have any grand plans for your brand in the future? Any future ideas and exclusives you can share with the MM readers?

Chanell: I want to start a luxury high end brand when the time comes, as well as add skateboards to the street brand side of things. So, I have a lot in the works right now.

Please make your life more interesting and shop Blockade Apparel Here: Blockadeclothing.com

Photos: XKY

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INTRODUCING… Harley, or Camryn, a 20-year-old upcoming female singer from Houston, Texas. A soul that needs to be the center of attention but also loves to be behind the scenes, Harley expresses her laidback vibe in her music. She keeps listeners wondering and waiting on their toes with her new single “Dangerous”.

MM: How would you describe your style of music?

Harley: I have a chill vibe style of music. I am a chill, laidback kind of an extroverted introvert and I feel as if my music reflects that. I would most likely fall into the Alternative R&B genre.

MM: What’s your songwriting process like?

Harley: When I write, I start with listening to the beat… observing how it makes me feel and just blurting out whatever. As I blurt, I jot, & I repeat. 

MM: What can you tell me about your new single, “Dangerous”

Harley: Dangerous was meant to be a discrete song for my friends to listen to but valentine’s day was coming along and my engineer, Vando, suggested to drop it on valentine’s day so that’s kinda what happened…The words really speak for themselves. I can’t tell you who it’s about though, that’s all a part of the secrecy.

MM: Have you noticed a maturity in your songwriting since the release?

Harley: I’ve noticed before the release actually! I have always written, I have a notebook for my writings & I get better and better every time.

MM: Did you always know that you wanted to have a career in music?

Harley: Yes. Period. Yes. I dream about it daily. My passion for this is through the roof!

MM: Are there any other projects you’re currently working on?

Harley: Yes I am working on an EP with me playing all organic samples instead of electronic beats.

MM: What excites you the most about the future?

Harley: I see myself actually living! I see myself doing what I was born to do. Music is changing and adjusting every day I believe I will have at least someone who can relate to me and enjoy my style of music.

Stay tuned for more music from Harley! You can listen to her New single here: https://soundcloud.com/harley-xclusive/harley-dangerousfeat-bluprod-30-hertz

Make your life more interesting and listen to HARLEY!

Model: Harley 

Photos: XKY

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Modé Models, Ryanna & Mikha, posing for our camera girl XKY on a different plant. 

Check out more on our instagram readmodemag! 

Photos: XKY

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INTRODUCING... Francis Thomas, or Noah, a 21-year-old Southwest Houston Rapper who grew up listening to a wide array of tunes. The diversity of the artist he observed followed suit to his personality and the music he puts out for the world. This past winter, Him & The MM Team met at the Botanical Gardens to pick some flowers. Here’s what we talked about.

MM: What hip-hop albums/ artist did you grow up listening to?

F: College dropout, you know everybody loved Kanye back in ’04. That’s really when he was in his prime. So it’s like everybody should have grew up listening to that album. Period. But then as more as I got into music I started listening to people like Lil Flip, Fat Pat, Lil Keke, and Big Mo all thanks to my dad being a part of the rec shop era. He was actually one of the co-owners. So with that I got into more of the Houston culture. With age, I started to listen to 50 cent, Wayne, Graduation album. Once I hit 7/8 I started listening to alternative music...

So pretty much growing up I listened to a variety of music. It just wasn’t primarily hip hop. I also try to emulate all of my idols and inspiration, like green day and Paramore. I like to bring out a lot of emotional distortion and distress within my tracks.

MM: Would you agree that you could describe your music as multi-cultural since you mix rock and roll/alternative and hip hop?

F: Oh yeah absolutely, somebody who I can say who really did it perfectly, is my mans Jahseh. RIP X. I’ve been observing him since he started rapping but he was the only person, him and peep, that could really pull that diverse music off and for everybody to get on the wave of screamo rap. They started that.

MM: What do you want your listeners to get out of your music?

F: Hopefully, just to get away. I want my music to be a new drug for people. For people to just escape reality and become numb with certain type of negativity in their life. I want people to feel good and just reciprocate whatever energy they have within other people or within themselves, doing something positive so they can evolve as a whole. With that everyone will love each other. Were all human, we all die at the end of the day. So let’s just love and get along.

MM: If you could compare yourself to an already established artist today, who would it be?

F: That’s hard. Damn. That’s really hard. Uh, I mean I want to say between Kid Cudi and Drake. Because, I’ve been listening to Cudi since he dropped a Kid named Cudi mixtape. It’s like whatever vibe I get off of him, I feel it. People tell me that I remind them of him so much because the way I come off, my personality, and my charismatic attitude. Like he just walks with a certain type of jiggy guy vibe and he’s a normal person! Even living in the stardom life, he’s worried about himself, his family and whoever gotta eat first before you just put the superstar light. I try to emulate kid cudi more. With drake, I try to be a little more emotional with the R&B shit and record emotional tracks every now and then. That’s my top 2.

MM: Where do you want your music to take you?

F: I want it to take me further than just the music industry, like I want to get into other things in life such as architecture, lecture classing on certain types of moods and emotions, because really if I wasn’t doing music I would be a psychology major, to pick peoples brain. Hopefully I can build institutes for the mentally ill. I want to try to help people who are taking medications that’s not really needed for them. I want to help people just face reality for what it is. I want my music to become a drug.

Make your life more interesting and LISTEN TO FRANCIS THOMAS HERE https://soundcloud.com/francisthomas-08/killfrankluke

Photos: XKY

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Introducing… TITO & his brand UNKN STUDIOS.

Tito and his model Nat had time to model pieces from his famous Space Academy Collection for MODE

.Refer to: https://tmblr.co/ZPiRLx2gCnwRW  for interview. 

Tito is wearing the Navy Blue SPACE hoodie with Navy Blue Cargo sweatpants. He adds color with The Rainbow colored revolver tote bag.

Nat is wearing the White Space Cargo Pants.

PURCHASE UNKN LIVE LIFE UNKN! https://www.unknstudios.com

Photos: XKY

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Introducing... TITO & his brand UNKN STUDIOS. 

Tito and his model Nat had time to model pieces from his famous Space Academy Collection for MODE. 

A young 19 year old from Providence, Rhode Island, Tito ignited his passion for design with the help of his school based around interest. 

“I was always into clothes I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to do a clothing brand. I went to a school based around internships so 2-3 days I was at an internship of my choice based on my interest. Through that I’ve tried out different things art related that eventually showed me what I’m actually passionate about doing. As time went by I met people that introduced me to a lot that goes into the process of making clothes/designs. I don’t do all the work myself”

Nelson is CO-OWNER of UNKN STUDIOS but he wasn't able to participate. He regretfully couldn't make it.

“I work with my friend Nelson. Me and him run UNKN. I also have a friend named Josh that always helps and supports us while running his own brand called “ALPHABETS”. 

Tito is wearing the Navy Blue SPACE hoodie with Navy Blue Cargo sweatpants. He adds color with The Rainbow colored revolver tote bag. 

Nat is wearing the White Space Cargo Pants.

PURCHASE UNKN LIVE LIFE UNKN! https://www.unknstudios.com

Photos: XKY